~Chapter 38~
After meeting her father, Aveline returned to her room feeling refreshed.
It was the first time she had ever asked her father something so directly.
Even though she tried to look calm when meeting his eyes, her heart had been pounding wildly.
“Good job, me. I did great.”
She patted her own head, changed into her nightclothes, and dove under the blanket.
“So basically, Father didn’t try to set me up with Viscount Berta because he hated me, right?”
Although his methods had been terribly wrong, at least now she understood that he’d acted with some thought behind it.
“He even admitted he regretted it.”
Maybe it was because she’d grown up starved for his attention—
but those few words of regret were enough to make her heart lighten.
“It’s been so long since I felt this warm.”
Feeling oddly giddy about having a real talk with her father, Aveline crawled under her bed and pulled out a familiar book.
It was one she had reread many times: “The Tyrant Who Adores His Little Sister.”
“I loved this one.”
She remembered the night she dreamed of becoming Chloe, the heroine of that story—
a girl cherished endlessly by her overprotective tyrant brother.
The affection in that dream had felt so real that it lingered for days afterward.
“I wonder if I can dream it again tonight.”
But then she shook her head quickly.
Even though Theron hadn’t shown up in her dream last time, she couldn’t let her guard down.
“If he shows up again, it’ll just give me a headache.”
It was a bit disappointing not to experience the dream’s sweetness again—but her wariness won out.
“I’ll just enjoy reading it instead.”
Lying on her stomach, Aveline read until her eyelids drooped and she eventually fell asleep.
* * *
“Which one do you like more?”
A familiar voice whispered near her ear.
‘What… what’s going on?’
Still half-asleep, Aveline blinked and looked around.
“This brother thinks the white shoes will be more comfortable for your feet.”
A handsome man was holding up a pair of tiny shoes, examining them seriously.
His neat brown hair and bright green eyes were unmistakable.
‘…Klein?’
Could it be—she was inside the dream again?
Aveline quickly glanced down at her hands.
Just as before, when she had first entered the story world, she saw small, chubby little hands.
‘I’m Chloe again.’
Around her were child-sized dresses, shoes, and glittering jewelry displayed everywhere.
‘I’d better be careful… what if Theron followed me here again?’
She looked around nervously, scanning every corner—
but thankfully, there was no sign of Theron’s presence this time.
“Do you like this one?”
Klein must have mistaken her searching glance for indecision, because he picked up the item her eyes had landed on.
By the look on his face, he was ready to buy her anything she glanced at.
“Take her to the fitting room,” Klein said with a wave of his hand.
The maids quickly gathered around her.
“Oh my, how adorable!”
“The dress suits you perfectly, Your Highness!”
“His Majesty will be delighted when he sees you!”
Aveline—now in Chloe’s body—was dressed up in layers of ribbons and lace, the maids squealing with joy each time she twitched.
“Princess, please look in the mirror!”
One of them rolled out a tall mirror in front of her.
“Wow!”
The exclamation escaped her lips as she saw her reflection.
‘I really look like a doll.’
Her brown hair was neatly tied up, her chubby pink cheeks glowed softly,
and her round green eyes sparkled brighter than usual.
When she put on a fluffy fur robe and the white shoes Klein had chosen,
she looked like a little snow fairy.
“Do you like it?”
A maid asked sweetly as Aveline stared at her reflection.
“Mm!”
Aveline nodded eagerly, glancing down at her feet.
Even though these were Chloe’s shoes, they fit perfectly—not loose, not tight.
They were brand new and elegant—not borrowed, not worn out.
Meanwhile, Klein was speaking seriously with his steward, his expression calm and stern.
Seeing his cold face for the first time made Aveline realize—
“Ah, right… this man really is a tyrant.”
But the moment he noticed her watching him, his face brightened like the sun.
“Chloe!”
He rushed toward her, eyes filled with pure joy.
‘He looks completely different from a second ago.’
Even the steward blinked, visibly taken aback, before quickly schooling his expression.
“You look perfect! You’re like a snow fairy! Do you like it?”
Klein crouched down, admiring her proudly.
“Yesh!”
Her childish voice slurred adorably as she nodded.
‘Well, since it’s a dream, might as well enjoy it.’
Though she still wasn’t used to being this small, Aveline decided to relax and play along.
She raised a thumb high toward Klein, showing how much she liked it.
“So cute! My heart can’t take this!”
Klein clutched his chest dramatically, trembling with affection.
“……”
Behind him, the maids smiled warmly while the steward squeezed his eyes shut as if he’d seen something too shocking.
The contrast between the feared tyrant and this doting brother was just too much to process.
‘Ah, that man…’
Seeing his face jogged Aveline’s memory.
He was one of the tyrant’s most loyal aides—the one who later sacrificed himself to save Chloe from a dark sorcerer’s trap.
‘What was his name again?’
She couldn’t remember; the book had always just called him “the steward.”
Still, it was strange but delightful to meet him as a living person, even in a dream.
“Haha, so which one do you like the most?”
Klein’s excited voice pulled her out of her thoughts.
‘Why so curious about everything?’
She was about to wave it off with a lazy gesture but quickly composed herself.
Out of all the things she wore, the one she liked most was obvious.
“The shoes! They fit perpefly! (Perfectly!)”
Aveline lifted her tiny foot proudly.
In the real world, she’d never had shoes that fit so well.
Even if this was Chloe’s body, the comfort she felt was absolutely real.
“Shoes? Of course! Move all these pairs to Princess Chloe’s room!”
Klein ordered, and the maids hurried to obey.
“Wow! Big bro ish the besht! (Brother is the best!)”
Aveline jumped happily, giving both thumbs up.
Klein’s face melted completely.
For Aveline, the perfectly fitting shoes filled her with unexpected gratitude.
She remembered the night she’d worn her mother’s loose shoes to the banquet—how they’d slipped and made noise.
‘If only I’d had shoes like these then…’
Feeling genuinely touched, she looked up at Klein.
“Thank you.”
She threw her short arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.
“Chloe… hugged me?”
Klein froze in shock.
Then, as if making a solemn vow, he said—
“Cancel my next meetings. I’m spending the day with Chloe.”
He lifted her easily into his arms and strode out of the room.
‘Whoa—!’
Aveline’s view suddenly rose high; she hadn’t realized how tall he was before.
‘Right… I guess tyrants need to be tall and strong.’
“Your Majesty! You have an appointment later—!”
The steward followed them, near tears.
“I’m busy,” Klein replied flatly.
Cradled in his arms, Aveline peeked at the steward’s desperate face.
“Your Highness…”
Their eyes met, and his pleading look said everything: Please stop him.
‘Ugh… fine. I wanted more cuddles, but…’
Feeling softhearted, Aveline tapped Klein’s shoulder.
But his solid frame didn’t even flinch at her tiny hand.
“Stop! (Shtop!)”
Finally, she grabbed both his ears and tugged hard.
“Chloe?”
He halted immediately, looking confused.
“Go!”
Aveline gave him her fiercest little glare.
Klein stared at her, looking utterly wounded, his ears still in her hands.
‘Oh no, he looks pitiful now.’
For a moment, she almost gave in—but she steeled herself.
“Play with Chloe later.”
“But…”
“Ssshhh!”
Her chubby cheeks puffed out as she silenced him firmly.
Just then—
“Ah, there you are.”
A new voice spoke from nearby.
‘That voice… sounds familiar.’
Aveline turned slightly, and the moment she saw who it was,
she immediately clung tightly to Klein’s neck in alarm.
